Nitrogen application manner and fertilization with some microelements versus ionic equilibrium in corn grains

Investigations carried out in 2004-06 were aimed at determining effects of the nitrogen application manner and some top-dressed microelements on the content of cations and, in particular, their reciprocal ratios in grains of corn, cultivated to provide fodder. Except for sodium, and the K:Mg ion ratio, concentrations of cations and their ratios in corn grain were found to be significantly determined according to the way in which nitrogen was applied: higher contents of cations and more narrow values of studied ion ratios followed the application of a divided nitrogen dose to the soil and to the leaves. Top-dressing of microelemental fertilizers significantly shaped cation concentrations as well as values of ion ratios in corn grain, except for potassium and the Ca:Mg ratio. Application of microelements resulted in significantly higher contents of cations as compared to those in the control.